Wake Forest University

Welcome to Wake Forest

Our motto means more.

Pro Humanitate (for humanity) invites us to use our ideas, knowledge, talents and compassion on behalf of humanity in all its difference and diversity.

See how we live our motto »

Our Winston-Salem, N.C., campus houses an academic community of almost 9,000 students, with more studying at Wake Forest locations in Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and around the world. Our undergraduate liberal arts curriculum inspires a holistic approach to preparing graduate and professional school students. We graduate leaders with integrity and courage who use their success to make an impact on society.

News

News

Wake Forest researchers elected lifetime Fellows by AAAS

Two Wake Forest researchers have been elected 2024 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Kimberley McAllister, Professor of Biology and Professor of Translational Neuroscience, and Abdou Lachgar, Professor of Chemistry, have been recognized for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements by the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals.

News

Vega named 2025 TED Fellow

Claudia Vega, a Fellow at Wake Forest’s Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability, has been selected as a 2025 TED Fellow for her groundbreaking work on the environmental and human health impacts of mercury pollution from illegal gold mining in the Amazon.

Wake Forest Magazine

Making a Brand New Noise

Richard Upchurch (’96) makes wooden sound toys and eccentric instruments to inspire four-year-olds and rock stars alike, and he has fun doing it.

Around Campus

wfuniversity

✨ Holi 2025 ✨

Students from across campus came together to share in a day of color, music, dancing and delicious food. Huge thanks to @wfu_hsa and @wfusasa for hosting such a vibrant and welcoming event that brought our community together.

#ProHumanitate #WakeTheArts

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Mar 30

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✨ Holi 2025 ✨

Students from across campus came together to share in a day of color, music, dancing and delicious food. Huge thanks to @wfu_hsa and @wfusasa for hosting such a vibrant and welcoming event that brought our community together.

#ProHumanitate #WakeTheArts

wfuniversity

Bonita Brown (’94, JD ’97) has come full circle.

A Winston-Salem area native, a Double Deac, and now the first woman to lead Winston-Salem State University as its 14th chancellor.

#WomensHistoryMonth #ProHumanitate

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Mar 28

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Bonita Brown (’94, JD ’97) has come full circle.

A Winston-Salem area native, a Double Deac, and now the first woman to lead Winston-Salem State University as its 14th chancellor.

#WomensHistoryMonth #ProHumanitate

wfuniversity

Wake ‘N Shake: Fueling the fight against cancer since 2006. #ProHumanitate

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Mar 24

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Wake ‘N Shake: Fueling the fight against cancer since 2006. #ProHumanitate

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Congratulations! The 20th annual Wake ‘N Shake dance marathon raised $3️⃣2️⃣2️⃣,9️⃣7️⃣5️⃣ to “Fuel the Fight” against cancer.

@wfuwakenshake began in 2006 as a way to raise money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund at @atriumhealthwfb. Students independently organize, publicize and lead the event each year.

#ProHumanitate #OurMottoMeansMore

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Mar 23

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Congratulations! The 20th annual Wake ‘N Shake dance marathon raised $3️⃣2️⃣2️⃣,9️⃣7️⃣5️⃣ to “Fuel the Fight” against cancer.

@wfuwakenshake began in 2006 as a way to raise money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund at @atriumhealthwfb. Students independently organize, publicize and lead the event each year.

#ProHumanitate #OurMottoMeansMore

wfuniversity

It’s a beautiful day to be a Deac! Welcome to the Forest, #WFU29. 🎩💛

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Mar 22

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It’s a beautiful day to be a Deac! Welcome to the Forest, #WFU29. 🎩💛

wfuniversity

Officially Spring in the Forest 🌸🌳

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Mar 20

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Virginia Wooten (’23, MSM ’24) co-founded a women’s weightlifting club at Wake Forest and launched Dawn, a fitness app empowering college women.

This is a Woman of Wake.
This is #ProHumanitate.

#OurMottoMeansMore #WomensHistoryMonth

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Mar 19

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Virginia Wooten (’23, MSM ’24) co-founded a women’s weightlifting club at Wake Forest and launched Dawn, a fitness app empowering college women.

This is a Woman of Wake.
This is #ProHumanitate.

#OurMottoMeansMore #WomensHistoryMonth

wfuniversity

Mountain Strong. 💛

Wake Forest Public Health AmeriCorps alumni, students and @communitywfu staff spent part of Spring Break in Swannanoa, NC, helping Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) repair homes still recovering from Hurricane Helene. #ProHumanitate in action!

#OurMottoMeansMore

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Mar 18

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Mountain Strong. 💛

Wake Forest Public Health AmeriCorps alumni, students and @communitywfu staff spent part of Spring Break in Swannanoa, NC, helping Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) repair homes still recovering from Hurricane Helene. #ProHumanitate in action!

#OurMottoMeansMore

wfuniversity

Feeling lucky? We are. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Deacs! ☘️

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Mar 17

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Feeling lucky? We are. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Deacs! ☘️

wfuniversity

More than a game, more than a film—30 years ago, Hoop Dreams changed documentary storytelling forever. Wake Forest professor Peter Gilbert, who brought the film to life as its producer and cinematographer, reflects on its legacy and the realities of chasing a dream.

#ProHumanitate #WakeTheArts
#WFUExpert

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Mar 15

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More than a game, more than a film—30 years ago, Hoop Dreams changed documentary storytelling forever. Wake Forest professor Peter Gilbert, who brought the film to life as its producer and cinematographer, reflects on its legacy and the realities of chasing a dream.

#ProHumanitate #WakeTheArts
#WFUExpert

Events

See all Events »

Apr

DESK 2025

3:00 pm

Davis Field

The annual Discovering Education through Student Knowledge (DESK) event, where Wake Forest students work with elementary school students to build and paint personalized desk study spaces.

Apr

Book Talk: Dr. Sherri Williams

4:00 pm

Benson University Center

The Program in African American Studies hosts a disscussion with Dr. Sherri Williams, author of “Black Social Television: How Black Twitter Changed Television.”

Apr

Spring 2025 Albritton Lecture Series

5:00 pm

Divinity and Religious Studies Building

The Department for the Study of Religions presents Dr. Sarah Emanuel as she lectures on her book, “Roasting Rome: Jewish Identity, Humor, and the Book of Revelation.”

Colleges & Schools

Why Wake Forest?

Affordability

Wake Forest is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need through grants, scholarships, work-study, and subsidized loans.

Our Hometown

Within driving distance of both the Blue Ridge Mountains and Atlantic Coast, Winston-Salem offers the amenities of a larger city with the vibrant culture of an engaged community.

Facts & Figures

Get to know Wake Forest better by browsing a collection of quick facts, figures and rankings.

By the Numbers

250+

is the number of student organizations that you can explore (or we’ll help you find a match) in order to discover your passion. Don’t find it? Apply to charter one!

Explore Student Life »

11:1

is our student-to-faculty ratio. More than half of our undergraduate classes have fewer than 20 students. Only 1% have more than 50 students.

Explore Academics »

72+%

of undergraduates have an academic study-abroad experience, many of them in our academic-residential houses in London, Vienna and Venice.

Explore Study Abroad »